I think the last sentence where he says that Robert had no problems with the wheel and it's switches (with minimal changes made) answers one of the biggest questions I would've had going into the test.

I think that is a good point. It would be harsh on Palmer but if you want to get a gauge of where Kubica is without committing long term or excluding the possibility of signing someone else for 2018 then dropping him into the seat after the summer break probably makes sense.

would it really be harsh on palmer? Personally i dont think it would, he has had a season and a half to prove he is good enough and he just isnt. If anything he is lucky to have had this extra half a season to prove he can get the job done and unfortunately he cant. Better drivers than Palmer have been replaced mid season. Palmer has had more than a fair opportunity even taking into account his unfortunate reliability. The speed and consistency just clearly isnt there.

There is no way kubica in the car for the rest of the season is going to perform worse than Palmer, keeping Palmer in the car makes no sense. At best Palmer may score points in one or two races where as giving Kubica the rest of the season not only improves the chances of points this season, long run it means Kubica is up to speed next season increasing the chances of hitting the ground running next season. Therefore picking up potentially more points next season than just dropping him in next season cold after a couple of pre season tests.

keeping Palmer in the car really will hurt the team this season and moving forward and is a massive error in miss placed loyalty. This is F1, it is a ruthless business, points mean millions of dollars. Teams cant afford to have a driver under performing at the level Palmer is, he just isnt good enough.

His fastest lap was set with ‘P2 levels of fuel’ – ie around 25-30kg (compared to around 6kg for qualifying) – which suggests his time was actually on a par with that set in qualifying by Nico Hülkenberg, albeit on ultra-soft tyres reckoned 0.3sec faster than the super-softs used for the GP meeting. The best of his laps in the long runs actually bettered those set by either Hülkenberg or Jolyon Palmer during the race.

I think that is a good point. It would be harsh on Palmer but if you want to get a gauge of where Kubica is without committing long term or excluding the possibility of signing someone else for 2018 then dropping him into the seat after the summer break probably makes sense.

If you are on average 0.8 off your team mate in modern F1 and you are in your second year with a team then its not harsh to give him the chop. He is not worthy of the seat.

His fastest lap was set with ‘P2 levels of fuel’ – ie around 25-30kg (compared to around 6kg for qualifying) – which suggests his time was actually on a par with that set in qualifying by Nico Hülkenberg, albeit on ultra-soft tyres reckoned 0.3sec faster than the super-softs used for the GP meeting. The best of his laps in the long runs actually bettered those set by either Hülkenberg or Jolyon Palmer during the race.

Very interesting, apparently his long runs were inconsistent and that is why Renault did not sign him. For me that is easily solved. If he has the pace then he is good to come back. It is suggested that his fitness levels are a bit low, that again can be easily solved in 2-3 months. I am sure he is coming from a very good fitness baseline.

Give this man 4-5 days pre-season testing and a couple of months to get his fitness up and he is going to come back very strong. He needs to get signed up for 2018, hopefully Williams now.

Renault could not loose by putting Kubica in for the rest of the season. Palmer is just not delivering, for what ever reason, and most people would say RK would gain at least as many points as him. If it turns out RK is not up to the job, well, they have given him the chance, and at worst lost a handful of points while not risking a full season when they are actually fighting for something.

Renault could not loose by putting Kubica in for the rest of the season. Palmer is just not delivering, for what ever reason, and most people would say RK would gain at least as many points as him. If it turns out RK is not up to the job, well, they have given him the chance, and at worst lost a handful of points while not risking a full season when they are actually fighting for something.

Good PR and nothing to lose plenty to gain

Indeed, Palmer has scored 1 point in 34 races His team mates over that period have scored a total of 41. Hulk with 34 this year - 6 points finishes and Kmag with 7 last year and 3 points finishes.

Hulk - Sainz orHulk - Kubica

Either would be a great line up for Renault next year. Such an upgrade over Kmag and Palmer

Just read that Nico Rosberg is going to be Kubica's manager. How crazy is that

Here's hoping he can get his old buddy Paddy Lowe on the phone and do a bit of convincing

Yeah the Renault break up and and Nico news seem connected somehow. Nico has good connections to both Williams and Mercedes, so Williams in 2018 and possibly Mercedes in 2019 if all goes well (and they cant get Verstappen)?

Apparently Kubica has already had an insurance payout for being unable to drive F1 for the rest of his life. Evidently if he returns he should pay it back.For those that were hoping he would be in the Toro Rosso, just one race seems like a risk to give an entire payout back. So unlikely. I'm sure that a contract for an entire year would be appealing enough to hand the payout back.

Apparently Kubica has already had an insurance payout for being unable to drive F1 for the rest of his life. Evidently if he returns he should pay it back.For those that were hoping he would be in the Toro Rosso, just one race seems like a risk to give an entire payout back. So unlikely. I'm sure that a contract for an entire year would be appealing enough to hand the payout back.

Hmmm interesting. It's an odd one. If you have a terminal illness and you're life insurance pays out but then have a miraculous recovery do you have to pay it back? I don't think so?

Just read that Nico Rosberg is going to be Kubica's manager. How crazy is that

Nico IS Kubica's manager and has stated it's best for Robert to wait and test for the Williams seat as that would be long term, but the entire insurance thing is a total scam anyway and the times they have to pay out claims are in the vastest minority and then the moment they feel they have an opportunity to put their hands back in your pockets they're all over it.

I realize this is likely a serious chunk of change, but still, the guy went through at least 2 years of agonizing therapy (been there so I speak from personal hands… I mean hips on experience) and that alone is worth at least a small payout from your insurance, then having to fight back a claw his way to get rides proved even more difficult and he was able to do so.

Personally, Rally is so much more difficult than any other 4-wheel discipline, I don't understand how he's been able to drive those cars and not trigger this very clause. I realize the language in the contract that's being reported is specific to F1, but F1 is inherently safer than rally racing.

Apparently Kubica has already had an insurance payout for being unable to drive F1 for the rest of his life. Evidently if he returns he should pay it back.For those that were hoping he would be in the Toro Rosso, just one race seems like a risk to give an entire payout back. So unlikely. I'm sure that a contract for an entire year would be appealing enough to hand the payout back.

Every step in this journey has hit some sort of stumbling block. If he does manage to be on the grid next year, the sheer number of intricacies that had to be ironed out along the way will make for a fascinating story

Apparently Kubica has already had an insurance payout for being unable to drive F1 for the rest of his life. Evidently if he returns he should pay it back.For those that were hoping he would be in the Toro Rosso, just one race seems like a risk to give an entire payout back. So unlikely. I'm sure that a contract for an entire year would be appealing enough to hand the payout back.

Hmmm interesting. It's an odd one. If you have a terminal illness and you're life insurance pays out but then have a miraculous recovery do you have to pay it back? I don't think so?

I was paid out my pension early as a 'board' decided I would not be well enough to work again, and it was made clear at the time that if I did work over a limit they set they would suspend payments and re-examine my case.

It does happen. I was close enough to retirement age to not make it worth a return to work, but it would have meant an 'adjustment'. If he feels he can earn more by resuming his work than the insurance would pay out,it may be worth considering, but it is a one shot try with no grantee if it fails.